Josh Fraser, a Pacific Islander builder working in Auckland, is a strong advocate for encouraging more Maori and Pasifika people to consider a career in the construction trades. He tells Building Today his story.
Since finishing his apprenticeship late last year with the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO), a business division of Te Pukenga Work Based Learning Ltd, Josh Fraser has worked on many builds, and is thoroughly enjoying his career as a qualified builder.
However, he doesn’t plan on stopping his education there.
“Finishing my apprenticeship on the last working day of 2021 was an awesome Christmas present. Since then I’ve been working on a range of cool builds, and I have started studying part-time, doing a Diploma in Construction Management,” Fraser says.
Management positions
“This is going to help me continue to further my career and construction knowledge, and to follow through on my goal to increase diversity in the trades, especially within management positions,” he says.
Fraser had a great experience training through the BCITO, finding the three-monthly visits from his supervisor incredibly helpful.
These visits gave him a chance to work on his theory and ask questions that were less focused on the practical side of building.
The one-on-one help allowed him to really nail the more complex theoretical skills of building that contribute to his skill set today as a qualified builder.
Outward Bound trip
However, the highlight of his BCITO experience was his Outward Bound trip.
“I was lucky enough to receive one of the BCITO Outward Bound scholarships. It was such an amazing experience and so cool to get together with other like-minded apprentices around the same age as me.
“It was a great adventure, and it was really motivating to be around other people who are career-focused like myself.”
Outward Bound gave Fraser a good opportunity to reflect on his future goals and consider what his long-term career in construction could look like.
“One of my main goals is to be in a position where I can encourage young Maori and Pasifika people to pursue a career in the trades.
There are a lot of young Maori and Pasifika people entering the workforce ready to provide for their families, and they are just taking the first job they can get.
“My goal is to connect with these people and educate them on the benefits of starting an apprenticeship, which is a better long-term option, allowing them to better provide for their families.”
Under-represented
During his career in construction, Fraser has noticed that Pasifika peoples are under-represented in management roles.
“I’m excited by the potential I have to change this by setting an example for others, and to hopefully inspire them into trades and management roles.
“I may have stumbled into the construction industry by chance, but I want others to know there are great career opportunities in the trades if you get the right training.”
